Diplomatic Relations

Lord Avebury: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they consider that Article 24 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations provides immunity from publication and use in court of material held by Governments which originates from their diplomatic missions abroad.

Baroness Warsi: Article 24 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations makes clear that the archives and documents of a diplomatic mission shall be inviolable “at any time and wherever they may be”. Material held by Governments originating from their diplomatic missions may not, therefore, be published or used in court.

Drinks Industry

Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what declarations have been made by the Prime Minister’s adviser, Lynton Crosby, of any business links with the drinks industry either in the United Kingdom or elsewhere.

Lord Hill of Oareford: Lynton Crosby is not employed by the Government.

Gaza

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have held with European partners regarding the right to security of Palestinian children living in Gaza.

Baroness Warsi: Officials from the UK representative to the EU and our Consulate-General in Jerusalem regularly discuss the situation in Gaza with their European counterparts. Those discussions cover the security and human rights of Palestinians living in Gaza, including children.
	Our Consul-General visited Gaza with other EU heads of missions on 26 February. The situation in Gaza was also addressed in the last EU Foreign Affairs Council conclusions to be agreed on the Middle East peace process in December 2012.

Gaza

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the legality of the weapons used by Israeli soldiers against civilians in Gaza.

Baroness Warsi: We have not carried out an assessment of the legality of the weapons used by the Israeli Defence Force in Gaza. We monitor all military activity in Gaza to the extent possible and regularly discuss the use of force with the Israeli authorities, reminding them that any use of force should be proportionate and in line with international humanitarian law.

Israel: UEFA Tournaments

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with European partners concerning the suitability of Israel to host the UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship final.

Baroness Warsi: We have not discussed this issue with European partners.
	We believe that it is correct that the responsibility for the decision on whether to award a country the right to host an international sporting competition rests with the international federation concerned, in this case the Union of European Football Associations.